Referendums to be held on regional assemblies
The Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott has announced today that voters in the North East, the North West and Yorkshire and the Humber will get referendums on regional assemblies.
In a statement to the House of Commons today Mr Prescott said that after months of inquiries and surveys into the level of interest he has decided to hold referendums in three out of eight possible regions.
Levels of interest varied dramatically throughout the regions with up to two thirds of people supporting the idea in the three Northern regions but far less interest in the West Midlands, East and South East regions. Mr Prescott said the lack of interest in these regions meant that a referendum was not warranted at this time. Over 50,00 people were involved in the inquiries with over 7,000 direct responses.
The Deputy Prime Minister stated that the assemblies would mean ‘regional accountability and greater democracy’ and would reduce bureaucracy. However he emphasised that the Government has no intention of forcing them on any region. He also compared the assemblies to devolution in Scotland and Wales.
The referendum’s will be held ‘at the first opportunity’ which will probably be Autumn 2004.
The government has not yet agreed what powers the regional assemblies would have but these are likely to be set out later in a draft bill.
The possible questions for a referendum have already been approved by Parliament and voters will not only be asked whether or not they want an assembly in their region but also which layer of local government would be removed to make way for the new assembly.
